title: K⁺ drops tilt the NLRP3 inflammasome.
abstract: Unwarranted NLRP3 activation causes inflammatory disease. Its activation must therefore be specifically licensed. In this issue of Immunity, Munoz-Planillo et al. (2013) reveal K⁺ efflux as the sole common denominator of an array of unrelated stimuli engaging this inflammasome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
authors.forename: Thirumala-Devi
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Kanneganti
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamkanfi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D058847:Inflammasomes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism*; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D058847:Inflammasomes; D000071199:NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein; C492716:Nlrp3 protein, mouse